Myocardial trabeculation in embryos of Scyliorhinus canicula (Elasmobranchii, Chondrichthyans)

Currently, three types of ventricular myoarchitecture are recognized in vertebrates, namely compact, spongy (trabeculated) and mixed myocardium. Mixed myocardium, which has been recently proposed as the primitive condition in gnathostomes, is composed of two myocardial layers: an inner trabeculated and an outer compact one. The trabeculation process has been studied in teleosts, showing exclusively spongy myocardium, and mammals and birds, characterized by a compact myocardial ventricular wall. In zebrafish, mouse and chicken embryos, the trabeculae develop as luminal myocardial ridges protruding into the lumen. In mammals and birds, further compactation of trabeculae leads to the formation of a compact layer. The potential mechanisms that may contribute to the formation of the ridges are under discussion and include myocardial proliferation, endocardial invagination, and bending of the entire myocardial layer. However, no description of the development of the mixed myocardium is available. To shed some light on this issue, we have studied the heart development of an elasmobranch species with mixed myocardium, the lesser spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula; Chondrichthyes), by means of histological and immunohistochemical techniques for light microscopy, semithin sections, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Our results suggest that in the dogfish the intertrabecular spaces develop by connections between early intramyocardial spaces and the lumen of the ventricle through invaginations of the endocardial line. Chondrichthyans are the earliest diverged lineage of gnathostomes and, consequently, they have the most primitive cardiac design. Although chicken, mouse, and recently zebrafish have been considered powerful vertebrate models to study heart development, we propose that the trabeculation process in the dogfish is representative of the early steps of the ventricular morphogenesis in vertebrates.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech.Study supported by grant CGL2017-85090-P and CGL2014-52356-P (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad), FPU15/03209 (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte), FEDER, and Universidad de Málaga

MYOCARDIAL STRUCTURE AND VASCULARIZATION OF THE HEART VENTRICLE IN HOLOCEPHALI: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEART EVOLUTION

El resumen aparece en el Program & Abstracts of the 10th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Barcelona 2013. Anatomical Record, Volume 296, Special Feature — 1: P-075.It has been classically assumed that the ventricle of the primitive vertebrate heart is composed of spongy myocardium, supplied exclusively by oxygen-poor, luminal blood. This idea is on two facts: (1) extant agnathans have a spongy ventricular myocardium, and (2) in avian and mammalian embryos, the formation of trabeculated myocardium precedes the appearance of compact myocardium. Recently, it has been proposed that, like elasmobranchs, the early gnathostomes possess a fully vascularised ventricle composed of mixed myocardium. We tested this idea by studying the structure and vascularisation of the ventricular myocardium in four holocephalan species of the families Chimaeridae and Rhinochimaeridae. Chimaera monstrosa, Hidrolagus affinis and Harriotta raleighana have a spongy myocardium covered by a thin layer of cardiac muscle. In H. raleighana, the compacta is reduced to an extremely fine rim. In all three species there is a well-developed coronary artery system consisting of subepicardial vessels which give off branches that penetrate the myocardial trabeculae. Rhinochimaera atlantica has no compacta and its ventricular coronary artery system is reduced to subepicardial vessels that do not enter the spongy layer. This report is the first to show that in wild living vertebrates, a coronary artery system supplying the whole myocardium exists in the absence of a well-developed compacta, which supports experimental work that shows that myocardial cell proliferation and coronary vascular growth rely on genetically separated programs. We conclude that the mixed ventricular myocardium is primitive for chondrichthyans, and that the lack of compacta in some holocephalans is a derived character. Moreover our results support the hypotheses that the mixed myocardium is the primitive condition in gnathostomes, and that the absence of a compacta in different actinopterygian taxa is the result of its repeated loss during evolution.Proyecto CGL2010-16417/BOS; Fondos FEDE

Effects of flooding on mental health: a case-control study

3rd International Congress on Neurobiology, Psychopharmacology & Treatment guidance (May 30th - June 2nd, 2013)Background: Post-disaster mental health problems may affect population in different ways. Population exposure to a natural disaster has been associated with psychological distress, in particular, in the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Most people experience distress after their exposure to an extreme event. For people with good psychosocial resilience and access to social support, mental health problems can be relatively less important since supporting relationships and inner capabilities may begin the adaptation processes. Mental disorders occur often, but less commonly than dis-tress, and in some cases they may require intensive and long term continuing interventions and treatment

The Myosin Heavy Chain specific A4.1025 antibody discriminates different cardiac segments in ancient groups of gnathostomes: Morphological and evolutionary implications

El resumen aparece en el Program & Abstracts of the 11th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Washington DC 2016. Anatomical Record, Volume 299, Special Feature: 263.The pan-Myosin Heavy Chain (pan-MyHC) marker MF20 have been reported to show similar, homogeneous signal in the myocardial segments of the heart of teleosts and tetrapods. However, in an ongoing study of the myocardial structure of the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula; Chondrichthyes), we observed differential immunostaining of the cardiac segments using another pan-MyHC, the A4.1025 antibody. In order to investigate the relevance of this finding for better understanding of the morphology and evolution of the vertebrate heart, we performed immunohistochemistry, slot blot and western blot in several species of chondrichthyans, actinopterygians and mammals using the above mentioned antibodies. In the dogfish heart, A4.1025 and MF20 specifically recognized MyHC isoforms, although with different degree of affinity. MF20 reactivity was homogeneous and high in all the myocardial segments. However, A4.1025 reactivity was heterogeneous. It was high in the sinus venosus (external layer), atrium and atrioventricular region, low in the ventricle and conus arteriosus, and null in the internal layer of the sinus venosus. A heterogeneous pattern of A4.1025 immunoreactivity was also detected in two other elasmobranchs, a holocephalan, a polypteryform and an acipenseriform. In all of these species, MF20 immunoreactivity was homogeneous. In addition, both markers showed a homogeneous immunoreactivity pattern in teleosts and mammals. Our results indicate that in the hearts of ancient gnathostomes, in all of which a conspicuous conus arteriosus exists, one or more MyHC isoforms with low affinity for A4.1025 show segment-specific distributions. Thus, A4.1025 appears to be an appropriated marker to identify the cardiac segments and their boundaries. We propose that the segmentspecific distribution of MyHC isoforms may generate a particular type of myocardial contractility associated with the presence of a conus arteriosus.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. CGL2014-52356-P, CEIMAR, BIO 203, FEDE

Anatomical, histochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of the outflow tract of ray hearts (Rajiformes; Chondrichthyes)

El resumen aparece en el Program & Abstracts of the 11th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Washington DC 2016. Anatomical Record, Volume 299, Special Feature: 264.Recent work has shown that the cardiac outflow tract of sharks and chimaeras does not consist of a single myocardial component, the conus arteriosus, as classically accepted, but two, namely, the myocardial conus arteriosus and the non-myocardial bulbus arteriosus. However, the anatomical composition of the outflow tract of the batoid hearts remains unknown. The present study was designed to fill this gap. The material examined consisted of hearts of two species of rays, namely, the Mediterranean starry ray (Raja asterias) and sandy ray (Leucoraja circularis). They were studied using scanning electron microscopy, and histochemical and inmunohistochemical techniques. In both species, the outflow tract consists of two components, proximal and distal with regard to the ventricle. The proximal component is the conus arteriosus; it is characterized by the presence of compact myocardium in its wall and several transverse rows of pocket-shaped valves at its luminal side. Each valve consists of a leaflet and its supporting sinus. Histologically, the leaflet has two fibrosas, inner and outer, and a middle coat, the spongiosa. The distal component lacks myocardium. Its wall consists of smooth muscle cells, elastic fibers and collagen. Thus, it shows an arterial-like structure. However, it differs from the aorta because it is covered by the epicardium and crossed by coronary arteries. These findings indicate that the distal component is morphologically equivalent to the bulbus arteriosus of sharks and chimaeras. In contrast to foregoing descriptions, the valves of the first transverse row are distally anchored to the bulbus arteriosus and not to the ventral aorta. Our findings give added support to the notion that presence of a bulbus arteriosus at the arterial pole of the heart is common to all chondrichtyans, and not an apomorphy of actinopterygians as classically thought.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. CGL2014-52356-P, CEIMAR, BIO 203, FEDE

Breakfast Is a Marker for Cardiovascular Risk Prediction

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Different laboratory mouse strains show distinct coronary artery patterns

Different laboratory mouse strains show distinct coronary artery patterns. MC Fernández 1,2, A López-García 1,2, M Lorenzale 1, V Sans-Coma 1,2, AC Durán 1,2 and B Fernández 1,2. 1 Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, Spain. 2 Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga (IBIMA), University of Málaga, Spain. The C57BL/6 (BL/6) mouse strain is one of the most common models in research involving laboratory animals, particularly on studies of the cardiovascular system. It has been reported (Fernandez B, et al. J Anat 2008 212(1):12–18) that this strain presents an unusual coronary artery (CA) pattern, including congenital CA anomalies, which are clinically relevant in humans. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether this pattern is strain-specific or appears in other mouse populations. We used stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and a corrosion cast technique in 597 adult mice belonging to three inbred strains (BL/6, Balb/c, DBA/2), three outbred stocks (CD1, OF1, NMR1), two hybrid lines (129sv x BL/6, CD2F1) and wild mice. Lock-like ostium was only detected in BL/6 mice, whereas left septal artery, accessory ostium, high take-off, intramural course, and solitary ostium of one CA in aorta were present in different laboratory strains and in wild mice. However, each mouse population showed a specific incidence of these coronary conditions. These results should be taken into account when studying the murine coronary system, especially in CA occlusion experiments and in studies on cardiovascular development involving murine mutant lines. In addition, we propose that several laboratory mouse strains may serve as appropriate animal models to study several clinically relevant human congenital anomalies of the CAs. Our results suggest that some of these CA anomalies are subject to a simple mode of inheritance. This work was supported by P10-CTS-6068 and PI- 0888-2012.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. P10-CTS-6068. PI-0888-201

El método etológico observacional en el medio natural: aplicación al análisis de la actividad y pautas de comportamiento en lagartos de Tenerife (Islas Canarias)

Se presentan los resultados preliminares de la aplicación del método etológico observacional al estudio de la actividad en lagartos de Tenerife en dos zonas de la isla con características ecológicas diferentes (Malpaís de Güimar y en la periferia del Parque Nacional del Teide) y en dos tramos horarios (mañana y mediodía). Durante transectos elegidos al azar, se contabilizó el número de ejemplares activos de cada sexo y categoría, así como el tipo de pauta de comportamiento que realizaban. En ambas zonas fue siempre mayor el número de ejemplares machos activos que el de hembras o juveniles. El número total de animales activos por unidad de área y tiempo estuvo relacionada inversamente con la temperatura ambiental en la zona del P.N. del Teide, mientras que tuvo un máximo a temperaturas intermedias entre los valores máximos en el Malpaís de Güimar. En esta última zona el número de ejemplares observados fue mayor al mediodía que en la mañana, mientras que ocurrió lo contrario en el P.N. del Teide. Estos resultados preliminares apoyan lo encontrado en otras especies respecto al mayor nivel de actividad de los machos. Además, sugieren un patrón diferencial de actividad en relación a la temperatura ambiental en las dos zonas estudiadas.We present preliminary results on the application of the observational ethological method to the study of activity of lizards from Tenerife in two habitats of the island with different ecological characteristics: Malpaís de Güimar (SE of the island) and the periphery of Teide National Park (centre of the island), and in two daily times. We counted the number of animals of each sex and category while walking in transects with hazardously chosen directions. The behaviour pattern performed by each observed animal was also scored. The results show that there were always more active males than females or juveniles in both zones. The number of total active animals per unit area and time was inversely related to the environmental temperature in Teide National Park. In Malpaís de Güimar the higher number of animals was recorded in intermediate temperatures between maximum and minimum ones. The number of observed animals was greater at midday than in the morning in Malpaís de Güimar, but the contrary occurred at Teide N.P. The results support the finding in other species of a higher activity level in males and also suggest a differential activity pattern in relation to environmental temperature in both zones studied

Principios Éticos y Estándares de Calidad Para Inserción en Empleo Ordinario Mediante Empleo con Apoyo

[From Introduction] La preocupación de las organizaciones y servicios por la gestión de la Calidad y de la Excelencia en sus servicios se esta convirtiendo en una constante en el mundo de la discapacidad. Normativas y Estándares de Calidad como la ISO, de la Internacional Organization for Standardization, en sus diferentes versiones, o la EFQM de la European Foundation for Quality Model, son cada vez más utilizadas. La primera se ha desarrollado como herramienta para la gestión de la calidad de las organizaciones, y la segunda plantea un modelo de Calidad Total o Excelencia, tratando de hacer tangibles sus principios para que las organizaciones puedan servirse de los mimos. La aplicación y utilización de estas herramientas para la gestión de la calidad, dentro del ámbito de los servicios sociales y más concretamente de la discapacidad, esta siendo cada vez más frecuente